Pay & Superannuation
Women's Superannuation in Australia
Women's median super balance is 19.8% lower than men's (ATO, 2023–24). How the gap builds by age, recent changes to super and the government schemes that can help.
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$61,471
Less super for women aged 60 to 64. Their median balance was $174,655, against $236,126 for men, in 2023–24.
- Median balance, all ages
- 19.8% lower for women
- Widest gap
- 30.1% at 50–54
- Super on Parental Leave Pay
- 12%, paid from July 2026
Source: ATO, Taxation statistics 2023–24 (people with a balance above zero); Services Australia, Paid Parental Leave scheme changes.
How big the super gap is
In 2023–24, the median super balance was $57,688 for women and $71,914 for men, among people with a balance above zero. The typical woman had 19.8% less than the typical man. Average balances show a similar gap: $164,206 for women against $202,644 for men, 19.0% lower.
The gap by age
The gap is small for young workers: 3.2% at ages 25–29. It opens in the 30s, reaching 11.4% at 30–34 and 22.1% at 35–39, and is widest at 50–54, at 30.1%. At 60–64, women’s median balance was $61,471 lower than men’s.
View the data
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | $6,380 | $5,784 |
| 25–29 | $21,742 | $21,048 |
| 30–34 | $42,962 | $38,070 |
| 35–39 | $78,289 | $61,022 |
| 40–44 | $116,076 | $85,804 |
| 45–49 | $154,751 | $110,864 |
| 50–54 | $192,196 | $134,309 |
| 55–59 | $220,560 | $154,732 |
| 60–64 | $236,126 | $174,655 |
| 65–69 | $230,766 | $207,187 |
| 70–74 | $227,027 | $228,978 |
| 75 or more | $200,477 | $195,201 |
Why women retire with less
Employer super contributions are a percentage of earnings, currently 12%. Anything that lowers what a woman earns also lowers what goes into her super, and the shortfall builds up over a working life.
- Lower pay. Women working full time earned 11.3% less than men in May 2026.
- Fewer paid hours. 43.0% of employed women worked part-time in August 2026, compared with 20.5% of men.
- Time out of paid work. Years spent caring for children or others mean years with little or no super paid in. Government Parental Leave Pay only began to carry super for children born or adopted from 1 July 2025.
Read more in Gender Pay Gap Statistics in Australia and Why the Gender Pay Gap Persists. For how finances play out in later life, see Older Women and the Housing Shortfall.
Recent changes to super
- Super guarantee rose to 12% on 1 July 2025. It applies to full-time, part-time and casual employees. For employees aged 18 or over, it is paid regardless of how many hours they work.
- Super on Parental Leave Pay. For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, the ATO pays a 12% super contribution on government Parental Leave Pay. The ATO pays it into your fund the financial year after your payment starts, without you needing to claim, beginning in July 2026. If you share Parental Leave Pay, each parent gets super on their share.
- Longer Parental Leave Pay. For children born or adopted from 1 July 2026, Parental Leave Pay is 130 days, equal to 26 weeks. If you have a partner, 20 days are reserved for them.
- Payday super. From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super so it reaches your fund within 7 business days of each payday. Before that, super could be paid quarterly.
Government schemes that can help
These schemes are aimed at people on lower incomes and people who have spent time out of paid work. Each has more conditions than shown here, so check the ATO page for the scheme before you act, or speak to a licensed financial adviser.
| Scheme | Who it is for | What you can get |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse contribution tax offset | Couples where one partner earns less than $40,000 | A tax offset of up to $540 for the contributing partner, when they add $3,000 to the lower earner’s super and that partner earns $37,000 or less |
| Super co-contribution (2026–27) | People earning less than $64,293 who make after-tax contributions | Up to $500 from the government. The full amount applies if you earn $49,293 or less and contribute $1,000 |
| Low income super tax offset | People earning $37,000 or less | 15% of your before-tax super contributions paid back into your super, up to $500 |
| Catch-up concessional contributions | People with a total super balance under $500,000 | Use unused before-tax contribution cap amounts from up to 5 previous years. The yearly cap is $32,500 from 1 July 2026 |
Sources
All sources checked on 1 October 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Taxation statistics 2023–24: Individuals statistics (Table 3 and Chart 12). Last updated 17 June 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Super guarantee. Last updated 16 April 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Work out if you have to pay super. Last updated 14 July 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, About Payday Super. Last updated 9 August 2026.
- Services Australia, Paid Parental Leave scheme changes. Accessed 1 October 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Spouse super contributions. Accessed 1 October 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Government contributions: co-contribution income thresholds. Last updated 26 April 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Super co-contribution. Accessed 1 October 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Low income super tax offset. Accessed 1 October 2026.
- Australian Taxation Office, Concessional contributions cap. Last updated 1 July 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026. 13 August 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Australia, August 2026: Table 1. 24 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much less super do women have than men in Australia?
In 2023–24, women's median super balance was 19.8% lower than men's ($57,688 against $71,914). At ages 60–64, the gap was $61,471.
Why do women have less super?
Employer super is a percentage of earnings, so lower pay, more part-time work and years out of paid work for caring all mean less goes into women's super, and the shortfall builds up over a working life.
Do I get super on Paid Parental Leave?
Yes, for children born or adopted from 1 July 2025. The ATO pays a 12% contribution on government Parental Leave Pay into your fund automatically, the financial year after your payment starts, beginning in July 2026.
Do part-time and casual workers get super?
Yes. The super guarantee applies to full-time, part-time and casual employees. For employees aged 18 or over, it is paid regardless of how many hours they work. The rate is 12%.
What is the super guarantee rate?
12%, since 1 July 2025. From 1 July 2026, employers must pay it so it reaches your fund within 7 business days of each payday.
How does the spouse contribution tax offset work?
If you add $3,000 to your partner's super and they earn $37,000 or less, you can claim a tax offset of up to $540. The offset reduces as their income rises and stops at $40,000.
What is the government super co-contribution?
If you earn less than $64,293 in 2026–27 and make after-tax contributions, the government may add up to $500. You get the full amount if you earn $49,293 or less and contribute $1,000.
Can I catch up on super after time out of work?
Possibly. If your total super balance was under $500,000 at 30 June of the previous year, you can use unused before-tax contribution cap amounts from up to 5 previous years. The yearly cap is $32,500 from 1 July 2026.
About this page
Written by the editorial team at Equality Rights Australia. We checked every figure on this page against its official source on 1 October 2026. Read our editorial standards and how we check figures.